Ettiene Terblanché - Captain of Volkskool

Player Profile

On Saturday in Graaff-Reinet, Volkskool play their close neighbours Union High in an FNB Classic Clash. Flank Ettiene Terblanché is the captain of Volkskool.

The Botanical Gardens field in Graaff-Reinet is in for a huge game on Saturday when Union High clash with Hoer Volkskool. The battle at the breakdown could be even more heated though as the two skippers go head-to-head, both fulfilling the crucial fetcher role for their teams. Ettiene Terblanché captains Volkskool and playing in his third inter-schools without a victory to his name (one loss and a draw) he will be desperate to get his hands on any scrap of possession that may swing the match in his team’s favour.

Born in Aberdeen on 13 November 1986 Ettiene has attended Volkskool for his entire school life. He is a school prefect and vice-headboy of the hostel. Apart from his good leadership Ettiene's coach describes his strengths as his fitness and hardness, able to take and hand out the hard knocks.

Ettiene himself admires the play the Bulls and Bok loose forward Jacques Cronjé. Specifically Etienne likes Cronjé’s attention to the finer details of the game and the fact that although not always in the limelight, Cronjé does not shy away from the “donkey work”. Although having all the attributes of a classic blindside flank Ettiene refers to himself as a “baljagter” or fetcher flank and is hoping to secure some vital turn-over ball on Saturday.

Volkskool’s strength though is their backline and especially their speedy wings, who are both lethal finishers. Turn-over ball would enable Volkskool to bring them into the game and to adopt their desired game plan, to take the ball wide.

Ettiene did not play for Craven Week but is going to arguably South Africa’s foremost rugby nursery next year. Free State University (Kovsies) has a habit of turning previously undiscovered talent into gems and in Ettiene Terblanché they may just be obtaining another uncut diamond.